Examius
🇵🇰 CSS Law (Constitutional) · flashcards
CSS Law (Constitutional) Comparative Constitutional Systems Flashcards
50 question-and-answer cards covering Comparative Constitutional Systems as it is examined in CSS Law (Constitutional). 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Comparative Constitutional Systems deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
What is the doctrine of judicial review in the US, and which case established it?
The power of courts to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional and void. Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) by Chief Justice John Marshall.
Describe the structure and tenure of the US Supreme Court.
Nine Justices (one Chief Justice, eight Associates), nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, holding office during 'good behaviour' (effectively life tenure).
How is the US Constitution amended (Article V)?
Proposal by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress (or a national convention called by two-thirds of states), then ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions.
What is the impeachment process for the US President?
The House of Representatives impeaches (charges) by a simple majority; the Senate tries the case, with conviction and removal requiring a two-thirds majority. The Chief Justice presides over a presidential trial.
What is the French Fifth Republic and when was it established?
The current French constitutional system, established by the Constitution of 1958 under Charles de Gaulle, creating a strong executive presidency to overcome the instability of the Fourth Republic.
Define a semi-presidential system of government.
A hybrid system combining a popularly elected President (with real executive powers) and a Prime Minister/cabinet responsible to the legislature. France's Fifth Republic is the classic model.
How is the French President elected and for what term?
Directly elected by universal suffrage through a two-round (runoff) system; the term is 5 years (reduced from 7 by the 2000 referendum), limited to two consecutive terms.
What is 'cohabitation' in the French system?
The situation where the President and the Prime Minister come from opposing political parties because the President's party lacks a parliamentary majority, forcing power-sharing between them.
What are the key powers of the French President under the 1958 Constitution?
Appointing the Prime Minister, presiding over the Council of Ministers, dissolving the National Assembly, holding referendums, and invoking emergency powers under Article 16.
What is Article 16 of the French Constitution?
It grants the President exceptional emergency powers when the institutions of the Republic or national independence are under serious and immediate threat, allowing rule by decree.
What is the structure of the French Parliament?
Bicameral: the National Assembly (lower house, directly elected, can be dissolved, votes on confidence) and the Senate (upper house, indirectly elected by an electoral college).
What is the French Constitutional Council (Conseil constitutionnel)?
The body that reviews the constitutionality of laws and treaties, supervises elections and referendums. It comprises 9 appointed members (9-year terms) plus former Presidents as ex officio life members.
How does French constitutional review differ traditionally from US judicial review?
France historically used a priori (pre-enactment) abstract review by the Constitutional Council rather than concrete a posteriori review by ordinary courts; since 2008 (QPC), a posteriori review on individual cases is also allowed.
What is the 'bloc de constitutionnalité' in French law?
The body of constitutional norms used by the Constitutional Council, comprising the 1958 Constitution, the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, the 1946 Constitution preamble, and fundamental principles recognized by the laws of the Republic.
What characterized the Soviet (USSR) constitutional model?
A socialist constitution based on Marxist-Leninist ideology, vesting all power nominally in the people through soviets, with the Communist Party as the leading force, state ownership of the means of production, and 'democratic centralism.'
What was the principle of 'democratic centralism' in the Soviet system?
Free discussion within the Party before a decision, but strict, binding obedience to the decision once made; lower bodies subordinate to higher ones and elected bodies accountable upward.
What is the federal structure of the Russian Federation under the 1993 Constitution?
A federation of constituent subjects (republics, krais, oblasts, autonomous areas, and federal cities) with powers divided between the federal centre and the subjects, and a Federal Assembly as the bicameral legislature.
Describe the Russian Federal Assembly.
The bicameral parliament: the Federation Council (upper house representing the federal subjects) and the State Duma (lower house, directly elected, holding primary legislative power).
What is the nature of executive power and the President in post-Soviet Russia?
A strong, dominant presidency: the President is directly elected head of state, guarantor of the constitution, sets domestic and foreign policy direction, appoints the Prime Minister, and can dissolve the State Duma—creating a 'super-presidential' system.
What is the Chinese (PRC) socialist constitutional model based on?
Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought; a unitary socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship, led by the Communist Party of China, with the National People's Congress as the highest organ of state power.
What is the National People's Congress (NPC) of China?
The highest organ of state power and the national legislature; it enacts and amends the Constitution and basic laws, elects top state officials, and meets annually, with its Standing Committee exercising power between sessions.
What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the State in China?
The CPC is constitutionally the leading political force; the principle of Party leadership means the Party directs the state organs, which implement Party policy—fusing party and state under 'democratic centralism.'
How does Indian federalism differ from US federalism (centre-state relations)?
India has a quasi-federal system with a strong centre: single citizenship, an integrated judiciary, All-India Services, residuary powers with the Union, and emergency provisions allowing the centre to override states—unlike the dual, more balanced US model.
What are the three legislative lists under India's Seventh Schedule?
The Union List (subjects on which only Parliament legislates), the State List (subjects for state legislatures), and the Concurrent List (subjects on which both may legislate, with Union law prevailing in conflict).
What this deck covers
The Comparative Constitutional Systems deck follows the CSS Law (Constitutional) Comparative Constitutional Systems syllabus — 7 chapters and 24 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 7.1 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 205 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Comparative Constitutional Systems flashcards FAQ
How many Comparative Constitutional Systems flashcards are in this CSS Law (Constitutional) deck?
50 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these CSS Law (Constitutional) flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 50-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Comparative Constitutional Systems cards cover?
They follow the CSS Law (Constitutional) Comparative Constitutional Systems syllabus — 7 chapters and 24 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.